Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a cabinet defining a contour of the washing machine, a front panel coupled to a front portion of the cabinet, a control panel coupled to an upper portion of the front panel, upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel. Each upper panel is provided at a lower end with a hook portion. Each side panel is provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to an assembling structure of a panel member on an edge of a front portion of a drum-type washing machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a drum-type washing machine includes a main body, a tub installed in the main body, a drum installed rotatably in the tub, and a driving motor for rotating the drum.

The laundry is inputted in the drum and washed by a chemical action of the washing water and a physical action of the laundry as the laundry is lifted and falls by the rotation of the drum. The laundry in the drum-type washing machine is less tangled than that in the pulsator-type washing machine and is improved it its washing ability. Therefore, in recently, the drum-type washing machine has been popularized.

Meanwhile, for the drum-type washing machine, together with a variety of improved functions have been developed, a design for improving the outer appearance has also been developed.

For example, a decoration panel is attached to define an edge of the front portion of the drum-type washing machine to improve the outer appearance of the washing machine. When the decoration panel defining the edge of the front portion is damaged during delivery or use of the washing machine, the decoration panel can be easily replaced with a new one.

However, the decoration panel may cause a couple of problems.

First, during the assembly of the drum-type washing machine, a gap may be generated during the assembling process of the decoration panel due to assembling deviations between other components. That is, since the components are inaccurately assembled, a vibration and noise may be generated during the rotation of the drum.

Second, since each component of the decoration panel may be deformed during an injection molding process, the assembled components may get loose.

Third, due to the above-described problems, the overall outer appearance may be deteriorated, lowering the reliability of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a decoration panel assembling structure for a drum-type washing machine that can allow components of a decoration panel to be accurately assembled with each other by improving the assembling structures of the components, thereby reducing the dissatisfaction of the consumers.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet defining a contour of the washing machine; a front panel coupled to a front portion of the cabinet; a control panel coupled to an upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with a hook portion; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a front panel; a control panel coupled to a upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with a hook portion; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted, wherein the hook portion includes an insertion portion extending from the lower end of the upper panel and a protrusion extending from a lower end of the insertion portion.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a front panel; a control panel coupled to a upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with an insertion portion and a guide rib formed along an edge of the lower end; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted and a guide rib insertion groove in which the guide rib is inserted.

In still yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a front panel; a control panel coupled to a upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with an insertion portion and a key spaced apart from the insertion portion; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted and a key groove in which the key is inserted.

According to the present invention, since the independent parts forming the decoration panel can be exactly assembled with each other, the alignment thereof can be enhanced and thus the noise or vibration can be prevented during the operation of the washing machine.

In addition, the exact assembling of the parts prevents the assembling lines between the parts are not exposed to improve the overall appearance or contour of the washing machine.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine, to which a decoration panel assembling structure is applied, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along line I-I′, illustrating an assembling process of a decoration panel;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified example of a hook portion formed on an upper panel;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a washing machine, to which a decoration panel assembling structure is applied, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 5 when an upper panel and a side panel are coupled to each other;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified example of a hook portion formed on an upper panel;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a washing machine, to which a decoration panel assembling structure is applied, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 8 when an upper panel and a side panel are coupled to each other; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine, to which a decoration panel assembling structure is applied, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a washing machine 1 includes a cabinet defining an appearance, a top plate 10 seating on a top portion of the cabinet 20, a tub 7 received in the cabinet 20, a front panel 40 coupled to a front portion of the cabinet 20, a control panel 30 coupled to an upper portion of the front panel 40, a door 401 coupled pivotally to a central portion of the front panel 40, and a decoration panel coupled to edges of the front panel 40 and the control panel 30.

The decoration panel includes side panels 60 coupled to both sides of the front panel 40 and upper panels 50 coupled to both sides of the control panel 30. The upper panels 50 are coupled to upper portions of the side panels 60.

Meanwhile, the top plate 10 defines a top surface of the drum-type washing machine 1. The top plate 10 may be detachably coupled to the cabinet 20.

The cabinet 20 defines side and rear surfaces of the drum-type washing machine 1 to protect the internal components. Here, the side and rear surfaces of the cabinet 20 may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the side and rear surfaces of the cabinet 20 may be separated parts that will be assembled with each other by coupling members. In this case, the maintenance cost can be reduced by replacing only the damaged part.

Beads 201 each having a predetermined depth may be formed on the side surfaces of the cabinet 20 to enhance the strength of the cabinet 20.

In addition, the control panel 30 is disposed on the front-upper portion of the drum-type washing machine 1. The control panel 30 includes an input unit for inputting a washing mode and a display unit for displaying a current washing state.

Meanwhile, a width of the cabinet 20 is slightly greater than a length of the control panel 30 so that the upper panel 50 can be coupled to the both sides of the control panel 30. That is, the cabinet 20 and the control panel 30 are provided with spaces identical to sizes of the upper panels 50 so that the overall appearance can be natural when the upper panels 50 are coupled to the cabinet 20 and the control panel 30. Needless to say, the width of the cabinet 20 is greater than the front panel 40 s so that that the side panels 60 can be accurately fixed.

Here, the upper panels 50 are provided to improve the overall appearance of the drum-type washing machine 1 and formed of an ABS material.

A hook portion 501 protrudes from a lower end of the upper panel 50.

That is, the hook portion 501 includes an insertion portion 501 a extending from the lower end of the upper panel 50 by a predetermined length and a protrusion 501 b extending from the insertion portion 501 a. The protrusion 501 b extends frontward or rearward in a horizontal direction from the lower end of the insertion portion 501 a. The insertion portion 501 a may have a width that is gradually reduced as it goes downward. Therefore, the frictional resistance can be minimized when the insertion portion 501 a is inserted into a hook hole 601 that will be described later.

The hook hole 601 is formed on an upper end of the side panel 60.

That is, the hook hole 601 may have a cross-section corresponding to that of the hook portion 501.

A process for assembling the upper panel 50 with the side panel 60 will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along line I-I′, illustrating an assembling process of a decoration panel.

Referring first to FIG. 2, in order to assemble the upper panel 50 to the side panel 60, the upper panel 50 is inclined frontward. In this state, the hook portion 501 formed on the lower end of the upper panel 50 is aligned with the hook hole 601 formed on the upper end of the panel 60.

That is, in a state where the hook portion 501 is inclined forward, the protrusion 501 b is inserted in the hook hole 601. Here, if the protrusion 501 b extends rearward from the insertion portion 5012 a, the upper panel 50 will be inclined rearward.

That is, the upper panel 50 is pushed downward until the protrusion 501 b is fully inserted in the hook hole 601. That is, the protrusion 501 b is inserted in the hook hole 601 until the protrusion 501 b is hooked on a step 601 a formed on the hook hole 601 of the side panel 60. Then, the upper panel 50 is erected from the inclined state.

Next, the top plate 10 is disposed on the top of the cabinet 20 to finalize the assembling process of the drum-type washing machine 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified example of the hook portion formed on the upper panel.

Referring to FIG. 4, an insertion portion 501 a extends from a lower end of the upper panel and a protrusion 501 c extending frontward or rearward from the insertion portion 501 a is bent upward.

That is, the hook portion 501 includes the protrusion 501 c bent in an L-shape. A hook hole 601 is provided with a step having a groove 601 a in which the protrusion 501 c can be inserted.

Describing an assembling process of the upper panel 50, the hook portion 501 of the upper panel 50 is first inserted in the hook hole 601 of the side panel 60 in a state where the upper panel 50 is inclined frontward or rearward, after which the upper panel 50 is vertically erected again. Then, the protrusion 501 c of the hook portion 501 is inserted in the groove 601 a of the hook hole 601 to provide the more secure fixing state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a washing machine, to which a decoration panel assembling structure is applied, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The same reference numbers will be used to refer to the same or like parts of FIG. 1 and the description thereof will be omitted herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, a guide rib 502 is formed along an edge of the lower end of the upper panel 50 and an insertion portion 503 extends from the lower end of the upper panel 50 in an area surrounded by the guide rib 502. A guide rib groove 602 corresponding to the guide rib 502 and an insertion hole 603 corresponding to the insertion portion 503 are formed o the upper end of the side panel 60.

A depth of the guide rib groove 602 may be equal to or greater than a height of the guide rib 502. If the depth of the guide rib groove 602 is less than the height of the guide rib 502, an assembling line between the upper panel 50 and the side panel 60 may be exposed to deteriorate the overall appearance of the drum-type washing machine and make the upper panel 50 shake.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 5 when the upper panel and the side panel are coupled to each other.

Referring to FIG. 6, the guide rib 502 is inserted in the guide rib groove 602 and the insertion portion 503 is inserted in the insertion hole 603, thereby completing the assembling of the side panel 60 with the upper panel 50.

Here, as the guide rib 502 is inserted in the guide rib groove 602, the upper panel 50 can be securely fixed on the side panel 60. In addition, the edges of the upper panel 50 and the side panel 60 are accurately aligned with each other.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified example of the hook portion formed on the upper panel.

Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of guide ribs 502 a are arranged at predetermined intervals on the lower end of the upper panel 50 to save the material cost.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a washing machine, to which a decoration panel assembling structure is applied, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The same reference numbers will be used to refer to the same or like parts of FIG. 1 and the description thereof will be omitted herein.

Referring to FIG. 8, an insertion portion 504 having a predetermined height protrudes from the lower end of the upper panel 50 and a key having a predetermined height also protrudes from the lower end of the upper panel 50 beside the insertion portion 504.

In addition, an insertion hole 604 corresponding to the insertion portion 504 and a key groove 605 corresponding to the key 505 are formed on the upper end of the side panel 60.

A width of the key 505 is gradually reduced as it goes downward to reduce the insertion-resistance.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 8 when the upper panel and the side panel are coupled to each other and FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the insertion portion 504 of the upper panel 50 is inserted in the insertion hole 604 formed on the side panel 60, in the course of which the key 505 is also inserted in the key groove 506, thereby completing the assembling of the upper panel 50 with the side panel 60.

Then, the top plate 10 is disposed on the cabinet 20 to complete the drum-type washing machine 1.

As described above, as the key 505 is inserted in the key-groove 605, the lower end of the upper panel 50 can be exactly aligned with the upper end of the side panel 60.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

For example, in all of the above-described embodiments and modified examples, the structure of the lower end of the upper panel 50 may be exchanged with the structure of the upper end of the side panel 60. That is, the hook portion may be formed on the side panel 60 and the hook hole may be formed on the upper panel 50. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet defining a contour of the washing machine; a front panel coupled to a front portion of the cabinet; a control panel coupled to an upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with a hook portion; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a sectional area of the hook portion is gradually reduced as it goes downward.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a sectional area of the hook hole is identical to or greater than that of the hook portion.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion includes an insertion portion inserted in the hook hole and a protrusion extending from a lower end of the insertion portion.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion includes an insertion portion inserted in the hook hole and a protrusion extending from a lower end of the insertion portion and bent in a direction.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein a groove in which the bent portion of the protrusion is inserted is formed on a step defining the hook hole.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion includes an insertion portion inserted in the hook hole and a key formed beside the insertion portion and the side panel is provided with a key groove in which the key is inserted.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a guide rib is formed along an edge of the lower end of the upper panel and a guide rib insertion groove is formed on the upper end of the side panel.
 9. A washing machine comprising: a front panel; a control panel coupled to a upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with a hook portion; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted, wherein the hook portion includes an insertion portion extending from the lower end of the upper panel and a protrusion extending from a lower end of the insertion portion.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein a sectional area of the insertion portion is gradually reduced at it goes downward.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein-the protrusion extends frontward or rearward of the insertion portion in a horizontal direction.
 12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the protrusion is hooked on a step defining the hook hole.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein an end portion of the protrusion is bent upward and an insertion groove in which the bent portion of the protrusion is inserted is formed on a step defining the hook hole.
 14. A washing machine comprising: a front panel; a control panel coupled to a upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with an insertion portion and a guide rib formed along an edge of the lower end; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted and a guide rib insertion groove in which the guide rib is inserted.
 15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein a depth of the guide rib insertion groove is equal to or greater than a height of the guide rib.
 16. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the guide rib and the guide rib insertion groove has a sectional area that is gradually reduced as it goes downward.
 17. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the guide rib is formed in a single strip shape or has a plurality of sections arranged at predetermined intervals.
 18. A washing machine comprising: a front panel; a control panel coupled to a upper portion of the front panel; upper panels coupled on both sides of the control panel, each upper panel being provided at a lower end with an insertion portion and a key spaced apart from the insertion portion; and side panels coupled on both sides of the front panel, each side panel being provided at an upper end with a hook hole in which the hook portion is inserted and a key groove in which the key is inserted.
 19. The washing machine according to claim 18, wherein one of the insertion portion and the key has a sectional area that is gradually reduced as it goes downward.
 20. The washing machine according to claim 18, wherein a depth of the key groove is equal to or greater than a height of the key.
 21. The washing machine according to claim 18, wherein one of the hook hole and the key groove has a sectional area that is equal to or greater than that of corresponding one of the insertion portion and the key. 